The Nintendo Direct presentation for Valentine’s Day is over and from it, we’ve gleaned a lot of new information concerning several of Nintendo’s new titles. Check out our coverage of the new announcements for 3DS below and let us know what you think of Nintendo’s commitment to their handheld in the comments below.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf releasing June 9
Perhaps the most anticipated title in this line up, Nintendo has finally set the release date for Animal Crossing: New Leaf as June 9th. Players will become the mayor of their new towns instead of being an errand boy for Tom Nook. New features also include the ability to design your town and the outside of your home, choose the location of your home dynamically, and visit all the shops available in the game through the Main Street Boulevard instead of running from place to place.
Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon is coming March 24th
Satoru Iwata kicked off this Nintendo Direct by declaring 2013 as the year of Luigi. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon will debut on March 24th and will feature brand new mansions to explore, new ways to use the Poltergust gun and new ghosts and critters to track. The game will also feature local and online multi-player with three different modes, including hunter, chaser, and climber.
Mario & Luigi Dream Team Announced for Summer 2013
The second title Iwata announced in the year of Luigi is a new Mario RPG game featuring Luigi. The gameplay for the game sees Luigi’s dreams as the setting, with players having to get various reactions from a sleeping Luigi in order to complete the puzzles. If you were a fan of Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, then this game is meant for you. No specific release date has been announced for the game yet, but Iwata said to expect it in the summer of 2013.
Mario Gold World Tour Announced
The final title that wraps up Iwata’s year of Luigi announcement is a new Mario Golf title for the Nintendo 3DS. No concrete details about the game have been announced, but several of you have been asking for this, so here it is. Mario Golf World Tour will debut sometime this summer.
New Fire Emblem: Awakening Map Packs Announced
New map packs for Fire Emblem: Awakening are now available in the Nintendo 3DS eShop. You can pick up the Champions of Yore 3 pack for $2.50. The Golden Gaffe DLC is also available for $6, pitting you against new wealthy enemies to take gold to buy new gear for your army. Additionally a new map is available that features a new character and a special skill that increases states for everyone by two points. The discounts on these won’t last long, so if you’re a Fire Emblem fan, Nintendo encourages you to pick them up today.
Lego City: The Chase Begins Announced
Today Nintendo revealed that Lego City: Undercover will also receive a Lego City game for 3DS called Lego City: The Chase Begins. It features an entirely new story set two years before the main game available on Wii U, with Chase McCain as a rookie cop.
New Nintendo 3DS eShop Games
Nintendo also made several announcements regarding Nintendo 3DS eShop games, including HarmoKnight, a rhythm-based game, Kersploosh, a gravity puzzler, and a Dillion’s Rolling Western – The Last Ranger, a sequel to one of the most successful DSiWare titles to date. Release dates for these titles are as follows:
- HarmoKnight – March 28th; demo available March 14th
- Kersploosh – March 7th
- DRW – The Last Ranger – April 11th
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D headed to 3DS
Reggie Fils-Aime wrapped up this morning’s Nintendo Direct by announcing the 2010 Wii title Donkey Kong Country Returns will be making its way to Nintendo 3DS with improvements for 3D gameplay. A new video is available in the eShop for those interested, so be sure and check it out. No release date was given for this title, but expect it sometime this year.
